Buggy had been hoping Austin would come save them, but unfortunately, Austin had his own business to attend to.
"Sorry, Buggy, but I've got something to do. You and Shanks hold on a little longer."
Austin patted Buggy on the shoulder, then vanished in a flash and carved his way out of the encirclement once more.
"W-Wait... damn it!!"
Buggy looked like he was about to cry. He could only fight and retreat alongside Shanks with a miserable expression.
They were not freakish monsters like Austin. Though the twelve-year-old boys were fairly capable fighters, they were still struggling against such a massive number of elite pirates.
Shanks, on the other hand, seemed rather carefree. After bidding Austin farewell, he clashed with the charging pirates again.
"Don't let your guard down, Buggy! The enemy's coming again!"
"Damn it!!!"
Meanwhile, at the main battlefield of the Battle of Ed War,
Roger and Shiki's Conqueror's Haki clashed wildly, black-red lightning spreading across the battlefield as though it would tear the sky apart!
Some of the weaker pirates did not even dare approach the battlefield. After all, the seniors lying unconscious all over the ground served as perfect examples.
Their battle was equally intense.
"Divine Departure!!!"
"Lion's Shred Valley!!!"
As their sword techniques collided, Austin, who had rushed over to watch, did not dare blink. His eyes remained fixed on the two blades that had not actually touched.
"No matter how many times I see it, this power still leaves me in awe!"
Conqueror's Haki Infusion!!!
Austin had gone mad. Braving the lingering shockwaves of two overwhelmingly powerful Hakis, he watched from the sidelines, using his Observation Haki at full power to feel this innate talent.
Facing this world-destroying power head-on, Austin admitted that this was the first time he had felt fear.
It was not weakness of will or spirit, but a living creature's instinctive fear of death.
He knew that if he dared take even a few more steps forward, no matter how powerful his physique and Two-Colored Haki were, he would be ground into nothing by that power.
But Austin did not retreat. He admitted that he was taking a gamble.
But clearly, he had won.
When facing the great terror between life and death, people could often break through certain limits.
Perhaps because he was too close, countless wounds began appearing across Austin's body. Even Armament Haki could not defend him effectively, and blood trickled from his seven orifices.
But Austin did not dare retreat.
Because if he retreated now, it would haunt him for the rest of his life!
If he retreated out of fear of someone else's Conqueror's Haki, then based on Austin's understanding of this force of spirit, awakening it again would become nearly impossible. At best, he would only reach the level of an Emperor's First Mate for the rest of his life.
Then how was he supposed to show off? How was he supposed to have fun?
He refused to become the kind of person who would be instantly defeated by a single Conqueror's Haki-infused slash. If he could not even reach Marine Admiral level, then in the future, he would not even be able to stand before Shanks without being knocked down by Conqueror's Haki!
In his previous life, he had been at the bottom of society, unable to turn things around for his entire life.
In this life, he had finally been given talent and a chance to grow stronger.
He wanted to become the world's strongest man!
The best at showing off!
The freest man!
He wanted everyone to break out in cold sweat at the mere mention of his name!
It was precisely because such simple thoughts filled his heart that Austin could face the baptism of two world-class Conqueror's Hakis without hesitation!
BOOM CRACK CRACK CRACK!!!
Just as Shiki and Roger were enjoying their battle, a youthful yet domineering will crashed into the battlefield. Black-red lightning suddenly drew their attention!
Shiki and Roger's eyes widened, then they both burst into laughter.
"Kid, looks like you've got ambitions of your own to fulfill! Join me, and I'll let that gunshot from before slide!"
"That won't do, Shiki! This kid is one of the future pillars of the New Era!!!"
In the distance, Rayleigh and the others, who were battling numerous officers, also sensed this exceptionally pure Conqueror's Haki. Smiles appeared on their faces.
Among them, Buggy was the most shocked. His hair whipped in the storm of that aura, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Eh!!! Austin actually awakened Conqueror's Haki?!?!"
"Heh, that's Austin for you!"
Shanks was much calmer, sincerely happy about his friend's progress.
But none of them noticed,
that among the Flying Pirates' numerous lackeys in the distance, one inconspicuous pirate was currently holding up an image Den Den Mushi.
And on the other end of the Den Den Mushi,
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"Awakening Conqueror's Haki at such a young age... that brat aboard the Roger Pirates may have potential no less than Roger's today!"
"I know this guy."
At the end of the table in the Marine office, a voice rang out from behind Vice Admiral Garp. The voice startled Garp awake, popping the snot bubble from his nose.
"Huh? Is the meeting over?"
"Garp!!!"
Looking at Garp, who had fallen asleep again, the current Marine Admiral Sengoku ground his teeth. Just as he was about to lose his temper, Fleet Admiral Kong stopped him.
"The Marine from Garp's ship, explain in detail."
Kuzan, seated behind Garp, rose to his feet. Gritting his teeth, he stared at the uniformed boy surrounded by black-red lightning in the image Den Den Mushi and slowly pulled out a Bounty Poster.
"The target is named Dotol Austin, twelve years old. Proficient in two... three types of Haki, gunmanship, and martial arts. His Observation Haki is suspected to be highly advanced. It cannot be ruled out that he is one of Great Pirate Roger's inheritors!"
If the earlier information was intelligence the Marines had obtained through battle and financial resources over the years, then that final sentence was purely personal resentment.
As a Logia Type user, the scar on his thigh still could not be removed.
He had nearly gone from a future Marine Admiral to a future Marine Princess!
"A monster this young... he must be strangled in the cradle!!!"
Hearing Kuzan's words, Fleet Admiral Kong frowned deeply.
There were more and more genius monsters among the pirates, posing an enormous challenge to the Marines, especially when he was a crew member of a Great Pirate like Roger.
Now it had been confirmed that he possessed Conqueror's Haki. If he were allowed to grow and learn Conqueror's Haki Infusion,
just thinking about another Great Pirate on Roger's level appearing in the future
made Kong feel an immense pressure regarding the future of the Marines.
"That brat on Roger's ship with the gun on his back has grown this strong already?" Marine Hero Garp remarked as he ate rice crackers.
(￣~￣) Crunch
"My rice crackers!!! Garp!!!"
Sengoku let out a Buddha-like roar.
"Not one of you is willing to serve me!"
"Then die!"
"Don't talk big, Shiki!"
BANG—
Even though Austin had awakened Conqueror's Haki, it did not change the fact that he was still a kid. Roger could only protect him behind his back.
The shockwave from a single clash of sword techniques sent Austin flying again.
Austin adjusted himself and did not stubbornly return to the center of the battlefield. Instead, he used Geppo to reach Shanks and Buggy.
Buggy was clearly delighted when he saw him.
"Austin! There are too many enemies! What should we do?"
"Relax, Buggy!"
Austin flicked the rainwater off his blade and looked toward the turbulent sky, where a storm seemed to be brewing.
"You possess luck no less than mine or Shanks's—
—Conqueror's Luck!"
Before you continue